In the third of this three-volume historical thriller Molly McCracken becomes an avenger of oppression. She tries to save every orphan and refugee she finds. Naturally adept at solving crimes, she exposes evil schemes and solves heinous offences. Then based on a rumor she forms a plan to save Amy. Captain Williams considers it risky but decides he would rather die with her than live without her.
Experience gained at Tuck's Landing transforms Molly from a meek housewife into a formidable soldier of justice determined to locate and save Amy. Captain Williams mellows from a crime fighter with a death wish into a thoughtful companion. Since the Republic of Texas has not yet established a system of criminal justice they arrive in Nacogdoches as the law of the land. Though criminals, natives and Latinos outnumber settlers four to one Molly passionate about justice and passionate for the oppressed.
Nacogdoches is not a safe place for the orphans or misfits she is trying to help, nevertheless she feeds and clothes the needy, tends the sick and reforms a prostitute. Then she faces her biggest challenge yet when a ten-year-old slave boy she has taken in is abducted by the Mystic Clan. Outnumbered ten to one Captain Williams is reluctant to pursue them but Molly has fallen in love with the dispossessed boy. Captain Williams must admit that he too has grown fond of the foundling. Together they decide to risk ambush and death to pursue the clansmen.
Their first night is spent in a village with friendly natives who the clansmen have recently cheated in trade negotiations. To Captain William's surprise the natives decide to join his pursuit of justice. Then side by side the Rangers and the natives engage the clansmen. The boy is rescued. And another couple dispossessed by the clan are discovered and set free before they can be resold into slavery. Molly and Captain Williams bring them back to Nacogdoches and restore their possessions. And there the town offers the Rangers permanent positions as sheriffs. But Molly's determination to save Amy takes her and Captain Williams to Fort Casey instead.
At the fort Molly learns from fur traders that a little girl has been traded to war-like natives because they like her blonde hair. Molly wants to know if the little girl could be Amy. Forced out of the United States the natives have conquered the rugged northwest planes and gorges of Texas and continue their attempt to drive settlers out of the southwest. They are the same natives Captain Williams and his men have been fighting on the frontier. He believes that crossing their northwest barrier would be suicidal. Defeated and disappointed Molly leaves with him for Tuck's Landing to wait for trade negotiations. Then an old friend catches up and he has an idea.
The old friend knows the village where Amy is believed to be located. He also knows the territory. If they can confirm Amy's location, he thinks he can persuade traders to get her out. Captain Williams expresses his disapproval since there is no way to approach the village undetected. Then as they canter past the camps of impoverished tribes who live off handouts from the fort Molly decides to stop and trade for a Kichai woman's clothing. She believes if she dresses as a Kichai that the war-like natives would allow Captain Williams and his friend to escort her through their territories. Captain Williams exercises his authority as commanding officer and disapproves of the mission due to a lack of sufficient planning and an unreasonable level of risk. Molly remains undeterred and prepares to go without them.
Then Captain Williams reconsiders his affection for her. He doesn't want to live without her if she is killed and decides he would rather die with her than live without her. The three of them agree to head into the hostile territories whether it makes sense or not.